Alaska head coach Jeff Cariaso admitted that having to let go of Chris Banchero was hard.
The Aces dealt the Fil-Italian star to the Magnolia Hotshots for Rodney Brondial and Robbie Herndon, a deal which the PBA approved on Sunday — just moments after their 106-99 win over NorthPort Batang Pier.
“How is it, is it hard? It’s always hard.
“It’s always hard to let go, regardless of their stats. Regardless kung ano averages nila, letting go of someone or moving someone, it’s always difficult,” said the seasoned bench tactician.
Cariaso is aware of the kind of player that they have let go. But he justified the move, saying that Brondial and Herndon — part of the Hotshots team who beat Alaska in the 2018 Governors’ Cup Finals — both fit what the team needs.
“I really feel that this trade is gonna help. I really feel with the parts na kailangan namin, the two will fit in perfectly sa kailangan namin,” Cariaso said. “And to get something, you always have to give up something.
“Chris Banchero is a really good player. He’s done a lot for us here at Alaska. But, in all honesty, siya din lang ‘yung gusto ng iba. Siya din ‘yung medyo tradeable sa amin,” added the former PBA star, who won seven titles as a player.
“So for me to try to bring in and bring in the parts that I need, sometimes you have to give up something.”
Cariaso then explained what he likes the most about the sophomore Herndon and veteran 6-foot-7 bruiser Brondial.
For Herndon, it’s his cerebral way of playing the game.
“Yes, Herndon, very smart, IQ player. So he knows his spots — hindi siya namimilit, he knows his role. And he’s a good shooter. So we’ve seen that [in the] All-Filipino, [though] maybe not so much the last couple of conferences kasi medyo limited,” he said.
“Ang dami nilang guards, ang daming shooters sa Magnolia. But he has a capability of stretching the defense out. Kailangan mo siyang lapitan. Kailangan dikit ka sa kanya, so that’s gonna open up someone else.”
On the other hand, having Brondial beefs up his frontline. And it also helps that Cariaso has worked with him before.
“Rodney is someone that I know from the beginning since we started,” said Cariaso, who has worked with Brondial in Barangay Ginebra in 2014. “He’s that role player that we need, that banger, that extra banger that we need.
“Extra big guy na [it] doesn’t matter kung sino kalaban niya, he’ll do his best to try to defend. So he has good hands, nakaka-finish si Rodney. So lot of good things, lot of good things with those guys.”
